The first experimental release of the Pidgin 3.0 (2.90) instant messaging client has been published, allowing simultaneous work across multiple networks with different protocols and switching between chats using tabs. Plugins can be used to extend functionality and add support for new protocols. Builds will be prepared in Flatpak format (currently only a source archive is available). The second test release of Pidgin 3.0 is scheduled for March 31.
The proposed experimental release of Pidgin 3.0 is of pre-alpha quality and is not intended for daily use. The Pidgin 3 branch has been in development since 2011, and prior to that, it was discussed at the concept and idea level for three years. The release of Pidgin 3.0 was initially planned for late 2016, but development took longer than expected. The transition of the project to the GObject type system turned out to be more labor-intensive than anticipated. For example, unforeseen issues arose with refactoring the code for signal handling due to the lack of necessary functionality in GLib.
Developers also attempted to use WebKit to display chat history, but then abandoned this idea in favor of creating their own library for handling input and chat history. A lot of time was spent improving the API — the API in Pidgin 2 was based on old AIM/ICQ protocols, did not allow for the identification of individual messages, and did not support features like reactions, threaded discussions, message editing, and deletion. Initially, it was decided to modify the existing API implementation for these features, but this turned out to be the wrong decision, and after unsuccessful attempts, the API had to be rebuilt from scratch.
Notable changes in Pidgin 3 include the transition to GTK4 and Adwaita, the definition of interface elements using GTK Builder XML, the utilization of the GObject type system, a new Talkatu widget library for displaying chat history, a complete API overhaul, the use of the Meson build system, employing GPlugin for plugin management, storing chat history in SQLite, and migrating settings to GSettings.
Changes in the interface include the discontinuation of the Finch console client (it may be brought back in the future) and the merging of the contact list and chat windows into a single window. Version 3.0 currently only supports the IRCv3 protocol, but work is underway on new implementations of the XMPP and Bonjour protocols. The interface requires additional refinement. The new version is incompatible with Pidgin 2 and previously created plugins, but can be installed alongside existing Pidgin installations.
Source: opennet.ru
